Spirometry is required as part of the comprehensive evaluation of both adult and paediatric individuals with suspected or confirmed respiratory diseases and occupational assessments. It is used in the categorisation of impairment, grading of severity, assessment of potential progression and response... to interventions. Guidelines for spirometry in South Africa are required to improve the quality, standardisation and usefulness in local respiratory practice. The broad principles of spirometry have remained largely unchanged from previous versions of the South African Spirometry Guidelines; however, minor adjustments have been incorporated from more comprehensive international guidelines, including adoption of the Global Lung Function Initiative 2012 (GLI 2012) spirometry reference equations for the South African population.
All equipment should have proof of validation regarding resolution and consistency of the system. Daily calibration must be performed, and equipment quality control processes adhered to. It is important to have standard operating procedures to ensure consistency and quality and, additionally, strict infection control as highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Adequate spirometry relies on a competent, trained operator, accurate equipment, standardised operating procedures, quality control and patient co-operation. All manoeuvres must be performed strictly according to guidelines, and strict quality assurance methods should be in place, including acceptability criteria (for any given effort) and repeatability (between efforts).
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Basic Expectations for Safe Care
The GOLD website is dedicated to providing comprehensive information on Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). It offers resources and guidelines for healthcare professionals and public health authorities to improve the diagnosis, management, and prevention of COPD worldwide. The site include...s the latest reports, strategies, and updates on COPD research, emphasizing evidence-based practices for better patient outcomes. GOLD also provides educational materials, workshops, and support for implementing COPD care programs, aiming to raise global awareness and promote effective treatments for COPD.
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This paper summarises the past, present and future of asbestos exposure. The future scenarios as to the mesothelioma incidence in countries, where asbestos has been banned, are discussed.
These guidelines provide guidance of the procedures to be followed to decommission and dispose healthcare equipment at health facilities to ensure proper and safe healthcare equipment management.
Journal of the International AIDS Society Vol. 21 (2018) e25133
Many prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission programmes across Africa initiate HIV-infected (HIV positive) pregnant women on lifelong antiretroviral therapy (ART) on the first day of antenatal care (“same-day” initiation...). However, there are concerns that same-day initiation may limit patient preparation before starting ART and contribute to subsequent non-adherence, disengagement from care and raised viral load. We examined if same-day initiation was associated with viral suppression and engagement in care during pregnancy.
The data suggest that same-day ART initiation during pregnancy is not associated with lower levels of engagement in care or viral suppression through 12 months post-delivery in this setting, providing reassurance to ART programmes implementing Option B+.
https://doi.org/10.1002/jia2.25133
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Fact Sheet, May 2018.
Nipah virus (NiV) is a zoonotic virus (it is transmitted from animals to humans) and can also be transmitted through contaminated food or directly between people. In infected people, it causes a range of illnesses from asymptomatic (subclinical) infection to acute respiratory ...illness and fatal encephalitis. The virus can also cause severe disease in animals such as pigs, resulting in significant economic losses for farmers
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По оценкам, от вредного употребления алкоголя ежегодно умирают 2,5 миллиона человек, значительную долю из которых составляет молодежь. Употребление алкоголя являе...ся третьим ведущим фактором риска плохого состояния здоровья во всем мире. Самые разнообразные проблемы на почве алкоголя могут иметь тяжелейшие последствия для индивидов и их семей и серьезно влиять на жизнь общины.
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Целью этой главы является представление ключевых элементов, касающихся терапевтического использования психотропных лекарственных средств у детей и подростков, ... также знакомство
клиницистов с общими принципами фармакотерапии психиатрических расстройств в период развития. Для более детального ознакомления со специфическими медикаментами мы рекомендуем читателям обратиться к соответствующим главам, посвященным конкретным расстройствам.
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